Magnitude-6.3 earthquake shakes northern Thailand; 1 dead

A man points a big crack on a damaged road following a strong earthquake in Phan district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday. Pic: AP.

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday evening, killing an elderly woman and causing damage to roads and buildings. The quake struck at 6.08pm local time 27km from the provincial capital Chiang Rai. It was also felt in Bangkok and Burma’s capital Yangon. Latest reports indicate 23 people were injured.

3.47pm: The Bangkok Post reports that Chiang Rai’s famous White Temple (Wat Rong Kun) was seriously damaged in Monday’s earthquake. The temple, just a few kilometers south of Chiang Rai city, is a major tourist attraction. Local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who has worked on the temple for almost 20 years, said:

The engineer who built the temple and I checked the damage last night and we thought it wasn’t too bad. But come morning we were shocked by the extent of the destruction.

…

If the structure is intact, it will take me two years to repaint it. If it isn’t, the temple might be closed for good. We’re desperate. Our works over the past 20 years disappeared in one day.

7.10pm: For this magnitude of earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey warns:

Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.

7.04pm: Associated Press report suggests just light damage.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 and was centered 9 kilometers (6 miles) south of Mae Lao, Thailand, and 27 kilometers (17 miles) southwest of Chiang Rai. It said it was located at a relatively shallow depth of 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles).

6.55pm: This tweet purports to show road damage in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand after Monday evening’s quake.